Newsletter

Weather Routing's Monthly TradeWinds Newsletter

Select an edition to view:

Yacht Newsletter
Volume 17 Issue 3 Mar 2024
Discounted Trans Ocean Forecast Packages
Brian Whitley, Operations Manager/Senior Meteorologist

We hope that the recent winter season was enjoyable and prosperous for all as we begin to transition into the spring season. Now that spring is upon us, many cruisers will begin to prepare for their Trans-Atlantic crossings back to Europe and the obstacles that lie ahead. Severe weather in the form of enhanced trade winds and large swells in the wake of frontal passages have proven that strategic route planning is crucial for making these voyages.

Here at WRI, we provide a variety of beneficial tools to ensure the safety and comfort of our vessels looking to make the trip "across the pond". Some of these services include:

    - Customized forecasting and routing recommendations
    - Discounted trans-ocean forecast packages
    - Weather window planners
    - Heavy weather alerts and tropical surveillance for your current and expected location
    - Climatology studies

In addition to our customized forecasting, WRI's SeaWeather Onboard provides fast and easy access to view weather and marine data along your current route. This is an offline version of our supplemental website SeaWeather.net is not meant to replace our customized forecasts, but can be used an additional resource to help you stay well informed out at sea. The software is downloaded directly to your desktop and an internet connection is not required to download data files out at sea. These files are emailed up to 4 times a day, allowing you to view recent observations, forecasted conditions, and your custom route directly at your fingertips. Tropical surveillance is additionally included with a SeaWeather subscription, including daily tropical summaries to alert when you may be affected by a tropical system well ahead of their development.


We at WRI look forward to assisting you for your next trans-ocean voyage. Please call (+1 518-798-1110) or email (wri@wriwx.com) and our team of meteorologists will be happy to discuss our forecasting services and how we can make any upcoming passages as smooth as possible.

WRI Sails with S/Y Falken of 59 North!
Kyle Petroziello, Senior Meteorologist

WRI was provided the great opportunity to join 59 North skippers Andy Schell, Alex Laline, and apprentice Shyah Miller aboard S/Y Falken from the end of February into early March as we sailed along the E’rn Caribbean from Barbados to Guadeloupe to Antigua. As the on-board meteorologist, I was not only tasked with forecasting duties, but would also serve as a critical crew member. This excursion provided tremendous forecasting and sailing experience, helping to improve future forecasts and further learn sailing strategies.

We would begin with customary learning the boat walkthroughs and man-overboard drills while anchored in Port St. Charles, on the NW’rn side of Barbados, early on February 27th. Next, Andy would dive deep into the navigational planning process and chart plotting to provide a proper background to the aspiring crew. I then joined in on a meteorology basics lesson, sharing what large-scale features to look far that drive available wind for sailing. We would then take a closer look at the pattern in play during our voyage.

A subtropical high in the central Atlantic would be the driver of typical moderate E-NE’ly trade conditions for the better half of our week at sea. However, the most notable impact would be a stronger high shifting off the U.S. East Coast in early March, strengthening ridging towards the NE’rn Caribbean on the SE’rn periphery of this high, causing these to shift more out of the N-NE as well. Thus, we would be posed with a challenge of fighting stronger N-NE’lys towards the end of our voyage in the first few days of March as we would come due north in the lee of the islands for Antigua. So, with some flexibility allowed for this Caribbean island-hopping cruise, we exercised that right and would position ourselves further east than originally planned; providing better angles on those as we routed NW’ward for Falmouth Harbour, Antigua in the home stretch.

Falken Sailing Crew in the Caribbean Sea

The sailing experience was second to none. We launched from Barbados in the afternoon of the 27th, enjoying relatively persistent conditions for the 26 hour sail to Les Saintes, Guadeloupe. We originally launched at a high angle for St. Barts, though, this diversion for the small French island chain south of mainland Guadeloupe was supported by crew as an intriguing stop that was previously experienced and suggested by main skipper Andy. A full moon and array of stars would provide enough light during the overnight sail to dimly illuminate the vessel and surrounding waters to have a pleasant, though at times still daunting, first evening sail of the trip. Moderate E-NE’lys at a beam-reach, along with moderate swell, would be experienced much of the way, allowing us to let the mainsail out some and maintain a RL for the majority. Upon the diversion to Les Saintes, the final stretch of this leg offered some gybing practice as these were now at a broad-reach to set ourselves up nicely to sail into the beautiful bay in the lee of the island.

After a day at anchor, we would set sail again on March 01st for Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe, which is southeast of the mainland. We would receive some tacking practice as we routed north initially to approach close to the mainland, then would change course ESE’ward for Marie-Galante, crossing the path of the NE'lys. This was now the opposite tactic from the previous leg as we would battle the moderate to occasionally fresh NE’ly winds, ultimately putting these at a close-reach as we maintained a relatively direct course for Saint Louis, Marie-Galante, on the NW'rn side of the island. This was a bright sunny day as we could see the mountainous Dominica to our south and the mainland to the north, contrasting the deep blue Atlantic waters, with an arrival in the early evening after about 8 hours.

We would enjoy one last day at anchor the following day, before a 02:00 LT departure on the 03rd for our final destination Antigua. The expected stronger N-NE’lys these final few days were kicking in once we made it around the lee of the island as these wrapped around. This nighttime sail would feel a little more unsettling as we foresaw the stronger conditions coming, along with the scattered chance for showers/squalls into the morning hours near Guadeloupe. This nearly 12 hour voyage would feature a series of tacks for the first the first half as we routed against the wind NE’ward to pass directly between the mainland and the small island of La Desirade to the east. N-NE’ly winds were reaching sustained about 20 kts during this, with swells building towards 2.0 meters as well. We then had an eventful passage between the two islands in the early morning hours, experiencing a downpour or two – vanishing visibility a short while and soaking the crew, while also featuring occasional stronger puffs that would momentarily knock us off course and heel the boat over to an even greater degree. Finally, the last 6 hour stretch to Falmouth Harbour, skies would gradually clear and though the NE’lys were the strongest of the trip so far into the mid/upper 20 kts, these would also be gradually veering at a beam-reach, allowing the mainsail to be let out again as we rode these on a direct heading, reaching up to 11-12 kts speed! Swells reached their maximum height of 2.0-2.5 meters for this stretch, causing the vessel to sometimes crash down on the waves instead of a more predictable roll over, creating a thrilling ride. We arrived into Antigua near lunchtime the 03rd and would celebrate our long voyage together with a toast in the beautiful harbor.

This was a fulfilling journey for WRI as we would we further a great relationship with the 59 North Team, as well as gain invaluable hands-on forecasting and sailing experience (which was quite rigorous at times). I was also able to cultivate some unexpected and really worthwhile relationships with the rest of the crew members, learning more about their backgrounds and passions, and why our forecasting and sailing worlds are so intertwined.

Sunset on Falken in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua

Upcoming Events
12 - 15 September 2024 - Newport International Boat Show
10 - 14 October 2024 - Annapolis Sailboat Show
30 October - 03 November 2024 - Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Product/Services
SeaWeather Trials
Yacht Services
Marina Services
Race & Rally Services
Angler Services
Special Projects
NEW SeaWeather App